Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan
The crimes related to religion are known as blasphemy offences in Pakistan. These laws are criticized by many international bodies for being misused in Pakistan. The offences of blasphemy and mental illnesses of the accused are interlinked. There are many known mental disorders and conditions which can put an individual at the greater risk of committing blasphemy. Insanity defense is a defense against the criminal liability of a person suffering from mental disorder. There are several judgements of superior courts in Pakistan which shed light on the insanity defense in blasphemy offences. However, there is much left to bridge the gap between the insanity defense and blasphemy offences considering the developments in mental health science and jurisprudence to meet the ends of justice. It is crucial to build capacity of psychiatrists, psychologists, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, police officers, prison personnels and other relevant stakeholders.
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Blasphemy, Capacity, Insanity, Mental
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(1) Ali Ajmal
LL.M, University Law College, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Faiza Rasool
Research Scholar, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
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Cite this article
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APA : Ajmal, A., & Rasool, F. (2023). Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan. Global Social Sciences Review, VIII(I), 447-453. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).41
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CHICAGO : Ajmal, Ali, and Faiza Rasool. 2023. "Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan." Global Social Sciences Review, VIII (I): 447-453 doi: 10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).41
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HARVARD : AJMAL, A. & RASOOL, F. 2023. Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan. Global Social Sciences Review, VIII, 447-453.
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MHRA : Ajmal, Ali, and Faiza Rasool. 2023. "Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan." Global Social Sciences Review, VIII: 447-453
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MLA : Ajmal, Ali, and Faiza Rasool. "Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan." Global Social Sciences Review, VIII.I (2023): 447-453 Print.
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OXFORD : Ajmal, Ali and Rasool, Faiza (2023), "Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan", Global Social Sciences Review, VIII (I), 447-453
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TURABIAN : Ajmal, Ali, and Faiza Rasool. "Insanity Defense in Blasphemy Offences in Pakistan." Global Social Sciences Review VIII, no. I (2023): 447-453. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).41